Iraq faces the prospect of missing the 2026 World Cup playoffs after the US-Israel attacks on Iran triggered conflict.
On 5 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Iraq's national team's hopes of qualifying for the final stages of the 2026 World Cup are being affected by the war in Iran, as players cannot obtain visas to participate in the playoff matches in Mexico. Meanwhile, the team's head coach remains stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
"Due to airspace closures, our head coach, Graham Arnold, has been unable to leave the United Arab Emirates," the Iraq Football Association stated in an Instagram post last Wednesday.
"Additionally, many embassies remain closed at this time, preventing several professional players, technical staff, and medical teams from obtaining visas to enter Mexico."
Nevertheless, the Iraqi national team is scheduled to play against Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey, Mexico, on 31 March to compete for one of the last two spots in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Iraq Football Association added that they are currently "in continuous communication with FIFA regarding the management of our national team's participation in the competition."
However, if Iraq is ultimately unable to compete in the playoffs, they may still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Reports indicate that Iran is considering withdrawing from the tournament following recent US attacks.
If Iran does withdraw, Iraq could potentially replace them as the best-performing team that missed World Cup qualification, also having the highest Asian ranking among those not yet qualified for the 2026 finals.